Wire-stretcher.



C. J. SHADDEN.

WIRE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 3. I915.

1 ,1 83,498. Patented May 16, 1916.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLIE J. SHADDEN, 0F GER-ING, NEBRASKA.

WIRE-ST RETCHER.

Application filed May 3, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLiE SHADDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Geriug, in the county of Scotts Bluff and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vire- Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in wire stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of wire stretchers and to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient wire stretcher of strong and durable construction equipped with means for exerting a long strong pull on a wire and adapted to stretch a wire to a point in front of a fence post and then stretch the wire past the post and hold the same drawn across the post leaving both hands of the operator free for stapling or otherwise securing the wire to the post.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reversible wire stretcher adapted to stretch a wire from either direction at either side of a post.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists inthe construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line H of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the recesses of the rear drum.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the frame of the wire stretcher comprises in its construction an outer continuous side bar 1, and inner side bars 2 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Serial No. 25,551.

3 spaced apart to provide a post receiving space 4 located at a point intermediate of the ends of the frame and open at one side thereof to permit the wire stretcher to be readily placed around a post in position for stretching fence wires across the same. The side bar or member 2 is connected with the front half or portion of the continuous side bar or member 1 by transverse rods 5 and 6 supporting spacing sleeves 7 and 8 which are interposed between the side bars or members 1 and 2.

The rear side bar or member 3 is approximately L-shaped being provided with a transverse portion 9 extending across the rear portion of the frame and having its terminal 10 bent at right angles and riveted or otherwise secured to the inner face of the continuous 'side 1. The transverse connecting sleeve or member 8 is adapted to receive a chain 11 secured at one end 12 to the connecting member of the frame and provided at its other end with a hook 13 to permit such end of the chain to be looped around the transverse sleeve or connecting member 8 and engaged with a link of the body portion of the chain whereby the wire stretcher is secured to a fence post. When the wire stretcher is fastened to a fence post the continuous bar or member 1 of the frame fits against the post at the front face thereof and the frame of the wire stretcher extends beyond the post in opposite directions longitudinally of the fence.

The wire stretcher is provided with front and rear winding drums l4 and 15 provided with openings rectangular in cross section to receive squared portions 16 of shafts 17 and 18 having crank handles 19 and 20. Each shaft is squared at its intermediate portion 16 and is provided with round journal portions 21 which are arranged in bearing openings of the opposite sides of the frame. One end of each shaft is provided with a nut 22 and the other has a squared portion 23 to which the crank handle of such shaft is secured by a bolt 24. The front drum 14 is provided with end flanges having reversely arranged ratchet teeth 25 and 26 which are adapted to be engaged by reversely disposed pivoted gravity pawls 27 and 28. The pawls 27 and 28 are pivoted to the inner faces of the adjacent side bars or members of the frame of the wire stretcher. One or the other of such pawls 27 and 28 is in position to act by gravity to engage the coact ing ratchet teeth of the drum when either side of the frame is up. The rear drum is provided with end flanges 29 and it has an annular series of depressions 30 in its outer end arranged to register with an opening 31 in the side 1 of the frame and adapted to be engaged by a resilient pawl 32. The pawl 32 which is secured to the outer face of the side 1 of the frame .is constructed of spring metal and it has an inwardly projecting tooth 33 extending through the opening 31 and arranged to engage the depressions 30 which are provided at one side with a shoulder 34 whereby the pawl is adapted to lock the rear drum against retrograde rotation to hold a wire while the same is being stapled or otherwise fastened to a fence post. The front drum is designed to be provided with a relatively long cable 35 which in practice will be approximately 12 feet in length more or less and the rear drum is designed to be provided with a relatively short cable 36 preferably of a length of about two feet. These cables will be equipped with suitable wire engaging clamps for enabling them to be readily connected with and disconnected from a fence wire.

In stretching a fence wire the cable 35 is first connected to the wire which is stretched to a point adjacent to the fence post and the short cable is then connected with the wire which is stretched past the fence post and held across the post while it is'being stapled or otherwise secured to the same. The drums are provided with eyes 37 and 38 to which the cables are secured.

What is claimed is 1. A wire stretcher of the class described including a frame provided intermediate of its ends with a post receiving space open at one side of the frame, said frame being reversible, drums mounted in the frame at the end portions thereof in advance and in rear of the said post receiving space and means for rotating the drums and for locking the same against retrograde rotation when the frame is in either position.

2. A wire stretcher of the class described including a frame provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a post receiving space open at one side of the frame, front and rear drums mounted in the frame in advance and in the rear of the said space and provided with relatively long and relatively short flexible connections adapted to connect a fence wire with the drums for enabling the same to be drawn to a point in advance of the post and then stretched past the post.

3. A wire stretcher of the class described including a reversible frame provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a post receiving space open at one side of the frame, a drum mounted within the front portion of the frame and provided with reversely arranged ratchet teeth, reversely disposed pivoted gravity acting pawls adapted to engage the teeth of the front drum, a rear drum mounted within the rear portion of the frame and provided at one end with an annular series of recesses, and a resilient pawl secured to the exterior of the frame and having a laterally projecting tooth extending through the frame and adapted to engage the said recesses.

In testimony whereof I aflix mv signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLIE J. SHADDEN.

Witnesses:

RoB'r. F. NEELY, FREMONT SooT'r.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of ltents Washington, D. C. 

